Thursday, October 6, 2011

Delight! Alexa Turness, 28, pictured holding the huge fish she hooked while on holiday in Spain after battling to reel it in for half an hour. It was later released back into the water

When you go on holiday with your long-time angling boyfriend it is perhaps not a good idea to show him up.

But Alexa Turness managed it in dramatic style when she became a record holder after reeling in a 215lbs catfish.

She managed to outdo boyfriend Kim Hamilton who could only muster a fish weighing 189lbs.

The 28-year-old, who only took up fishing to see more of her boyfriend, hooked the catch while on holiday in Spain after battling to reel it in for half an hour.

The catfish was more than 1.5 times her weight and at 8ft 4in, stretched longer than the length of her body.

It was so big her boyfriend and tour guides feared she might get dragged into the river, and stood guard to catch her as she reeled it in.

It is the biggest freshwater fish ever caught by a British woman anywhere in the world and beat the previous record by just one pound.

The pair were spending a week with Catfish Tours on the River Segre in northern Spain and caught the fish on the third day.

Whopper: Alexa with the fish which was more than 1.5 times her weight and at 8ft 4in, stretched longer than her entire body

Miss Turness, an events director from Holland Park, west London, said: 'My boyfriend is really into fishing so when we got together seven or eight years ago I got into it too.

'It was a case of go fishing with him or don't see him. I wouldn't say I'm a specialist by any means and I don't know as much as my boyfriend.

'But it's amazing how easy it is when you have the right guides who know exactly where the fish are. It was about 11.30 at night when my rod started to go - I just had to hold on for my life.

'The fish kept going and going and going and the moment it stopped I started to try and reel it in. I weigh about ten-and-a-half stone and I was pulling so hard my back was almost on the floor.

'It took about 30 minutes, but I wasn't going to give up without a fight and eventually managed to bring it in.

Heave! The fish was so big Alexa's boyfriend and tour guides feared she might get dragged into the river, and stood guard to catch her as she reeled it in, pictured

'I was amazed when I saw how big it was. The guys weighed it for me and told me it was 215lbs. It's incredible to think I now hold the record.

'My boyfriend is quite gutted. We took it in turns on the rods, so this just happened to be my turn and I got the biggest fish of the holiday.'

After posing for a photo with her catch Miss Turness, whose holiday was organised by Catfish Tours, returned the fish to the water safe and well.

The couple celebrated her achievement with a glass of Spanish brandy on the river bank.

Mr Hamilton, 28, said: 'We were all going to sleep when the suddenly the bells jingled and we heard the line stripping from the spool and we knew it was going to be a monster.

Record breaker: The fish is the biggest freshwater fish ever caught by a British woman in the world. Miss Turness outdid boyfriend Kim Hamilton, pictured, who could only muster a fish weighing 189lbs during the trip

'All we could say was 'fish, fish, fish' and of course it was Lex's turn on the rod - just luck of the draw. The fish was going mental, the drag was as tight as it could be without causing a problem.

'We were all stood around Lex ready to catch her in case the monster pulled her in.

'It was an amazing, crazy night, but now I have to accept that my missus has a bigger one than me - and that's hard to take.'